Welcome to Greenville, South Carolina!
On a partly cloudy and very warm day with a high of 87F, we bring you the fascinating story of a local family that has entrepreneurship in its blood. The Montoto family who, over the years, have carved out a name for themselves in the city’s bustling business scene.
The Tropical Grille Phenomenon
Lazaro Montoto, the patriarch of the family, started his journey in the restaurant industry as a 14-year-old. Originally from Miami, a craving for the flavors of home led him and his wife, Shadid, to start their own restaurant. Thus the Tropical Grille was born in 2010, featuring Lazaro’s twist on Cuban food. Today, the brand has grown to an impressive 15 locations. Not one to rest on his laurels, Lazaro, together with Kostas Pallis A and Maria Dialis, opened a fast-casual Italian restaurant titled Pasta Project in 2023, adding yet another business venture to his list.
Madison’s Boutique: Following in the Parents’ Footsteps
Their daughter, Madison, took after her parents. Having been a part of the family business since the tender age of 13, she chose to diverge from the path to creating her own foothold in the business world when she graduated high school. Madison, despite an initial internal conflict about stepping away from the family business, took the brave decision to start her own boutique. “It was scary when I started to kind of question that a little bit,” she confessed. However, her parents backed her up after she sold them on her business plan. Madison’s Boutique was thus born, making her a small business owner at the age of 19.
The boutique, located at 330 Scuffletown Road in Five Forks, not too far from where she went to high school, is proof of Madison’s hard work and dedication. “It’s been really fun. But also, of course, comes with its challenges,” she says. Despite missing out on social events and watching friends go off to college, Madison remains enthusiastic about her entrepreneurial pursuit. Madison fondly remembers her parents’ hard work and that has always been her inspiration to build her own success.
A Glimpse into the Journey
A sneak peek into Lazaro’s journey from his days as a dishwasher to owning multiple successful restaurants reflects the spirit of never giving up. He recalls how he started at the bottom, “just a kid that needed a job to help support the family and pay my way.” From washing dishes to becoming a chef and then stepping into management roles, Lazaro has donned several hats on this fulfilling journey. His love for interacting with customers remains the one consistent thread. As he says, “Just trying to still get out to the stores and get in front of people to satisfy my craving for being able to serve our guests,” it is evident entrepreneurship is more than just business for them – it’s passion!
An Inspiration for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
The Montoto family’s story stands as a beacon of hope and inspiration for young aspiring entrepreneurs. They symbolize the fruits of hard work, determination and the will to take risks. The sky’s the limit when passion meets perseverance. This is truly a story that inspires a new generation of entrepreneurs and encourages them to follow their dreams, even if it means leaving their comfort zones.
